Plate clamp



Oct. l, 1946..v w.'|.. KEEHN 2,408,560

' PLATE CLAMP Filed Jan. '7, 1944 2 sheets-sheet l v A .v Y 3 I x M a wA. 7 2. 2 7. 4 ,ezw

W. L. KEEHN Oct. l, 1946.

PLATE CLAMP Filed Jan. 7, 1944 2 Sheng-sheet 2 snventor Warner' L. Kee/m)g/M JM@ and actuated by a cam which also sure by the cam,

` the clamp along the line 3 3 Patented oct. 1, 1946 PLATE CLAMP WarnerL. Keehn, Spokane, Wash. Application January 7, 1944, Serial No. 517,424

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a clamp and more particularly to a clamp bymeans of which plates disposed one upon another may be firmly held inclose face to face engagement with each other While rivets are appliedas permanent fasteners for the plates.

One object of the invention is to provide a clamp which is cam-actuatedand by means of which plates may be very tightly pressed against eachother during application of rivets.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clamp including a shaftadapted to be passed through registering openings in the plates andcarrying dogs for engaging the under face of one plate when the shaft isshifted upwardly byn a pressure applying cam.

vAnother object of theinvention is to so mount the dogs that they may betilted to a retracted position while the shaft is being passed downwardly through the registering openings of the plates, the dogs beingmoved to retracted position by a rod passing longitudinally through theshaft shifts the shaft upwardly to a clamping'position.

Another object of the invention is to so mount the dogs that when therod is relieved of presa spring may move the dogs to extendedposition'for engaging the under face of the lower or inner plate.

Another object of the invention is to provide the clamp with a base orsupport adapted to be adjusted to accommodate theA clamp to thethickness of the plates and also permitting a preliminary clampingaction to be applied to the plates andthe cam then actuated for finalclamping of the plates close against each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clamp of this characterwhich is simple Yin construction and very easy to apply and operate.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improv-ed clamp showing the same inclamping engagement with plates.

Fig. 2 is a front view ofthe clamp.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken vertically7 through of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the lower portion ofthe clamp. I

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken transversely through the lower portionof the clamp on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through the upper portionof the clamp, on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1.

Vto secure the plates vgroove I4 is provided vlowed to form a pocket 24Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3, with the ciarip in releasingposition.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8 8 of Fig. 1.

This improved clamp is used to hold plates I and ment with each otherywhile rivets are applied together. The plates are formedA withregistering openings 3 to receive a vshaft 4 `which constitutes anelement of the clamp and is slidable longitudinally through the bore 5of a support 6. This support has a threaded shank 1 carrying a nut orinternally threaded sleeve 8 formed about its upper end with anoutstanding flange 9 having its'edge face knurled so that it may begripped and the sleeve turned and elfect adjustment of the sleeve andthe support longitudinally of each other, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7.Bearing arms or posts It extend upwardly from the support 6 and betweentheir upper ends extends a shaft I I serving asa mounting for a cam discI2. The cam has a handle I3 by which it is turned and its peripheraledge face is formed with a groove I4 constituting an auxiliary camsurface which extends partially about the circumference of the disc andat one end is formed with a sloping shoulder l5. This to receive theupper end of a plunger rod I6 which is slidable longitudinally throughthe bore I1 of the shaft 4. A bracket I8 has a base formed with athreaded opening I9 to receive the threaded upper end of shaft 4. Thearms 2Q of the bracket extend upwardly from its base at opposite sidesthereof and upper ends ofthe arms 2i! are provided with cated by dotted'lines in Fig. 7,'the shoulder I5 will act upon the upper end of the rodI 6 and depress the rod for a purpose to be set forth hereinafter. I.

The lower end portion of the shaft 4 is holhaving its lower end normallyclosed by a cap 25 formed with a threaded shank 26 which is screwed intothe lower end of the pocket and, by referring to Figs. 3 and 4,

3 it will be seen that the shank is formed with a recess 21 constitutinga seat for a 28. A sleeve or carrier 29 is slidably mounted within thepocket 24 and within the lower portion of the sleeve 29 is an innersleeve 30 held in place by a set screw 3|. The upper end of the spring28 is received in the cup-shaped inner sleeve or filler 30 and urges thesleeve 2% upwardly. The sleeve 29 is also cup-shaped and formed acrossits upper portion with a diametrically extending slot 32 at oppositesides of which the sleeve is formed with bearings 33 to receive a pin orshaft 36. The shaft 34 passes through the ears 35 and 36 of dogs 3'! and38 to pivotally mount the dogs. These dogs project outwardly sides ofthe pocket and upon reference to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the upperends or edges A of the openings are disposed diagonally at an upwardincline toward their outer ends and lower ends of the openings extend atright angles to walls of the pocket. By this arrangement, the dogs maybe tilted upwardly to retracted position and, since outer end edges 4|of the dogs are out diagonally, the dogs will be disposed entirelywithin the shaft and the shaft may be thrust downwardly throughregistering openings in the plates, or withdrawn therefrom. The ear 36of dog 38 is substantially circular and has its lower p0rtion restingupon a hemispherical boss at the center of the inner sleeve 3B, as shownin Fig. 4, and its upper portion projecting into the enlarged lower endportion or throat t3 of the bore l1 and engaged by the tapered lower endMi of the rod I5.

When this clamp is in use, the cam is turned to the position indicatedby dotted lines in Figure 7, to move the shoulder l into engagement withthe upper end of the rod i5 and rod downwardly to press against the fectretraction of the dogs by contact with lower ends of the slots 33 as thesleeve 29 is depressed and the spring 23 compressed. During turning ofthe cam, the shaft 4 is shifted downwardly through the bore 5 of thesupport is passed downwardly through registering openings in the plates.rhe cam disk is then turned in an opposite direction toward the positionof Fig. 3 by swinging the handle i4 downwardly and, during thismovement, the cam moves out of compressing engagement with the upper endof the rod and allows the dogs to be projected outwardly to the extendedposition by expansion of the spring 28, the cam then acting upon theroller 23 to shift the shaft 4 upwardly and move the dogs into abuttingengagement` with the under face of the plate 2. Continued turning of thecam causes the plates to be tightly clamped against each other betweenthe dogs and the lower end of the shank 'l of the support and its sleeve8 and a rivet may then be passed through the plates and headed. Ifit isfound that with the sleeve in the position of Fig. 3, sufhcient pressureis not applied to the plates, the sleeve may be turned downwardly towardthe position of Fig. '7 so that it projects downwardly from the lowerend of the support and the cam then turned to shift the shaft 4 upwardlyand the support downwardly and strong clamping pressure will be appliedto the plates. It will thus be seen that the clamp may accommodateitself to the thickness of the plates to be riveted together, and platesof various thicknesses clamped tightly against each other, while rivetsare applied. After the rivets are applied, the handle helical spring.

6 and the shaft said arms with its is swung upwardly to turn the camdisc and shift the shaft downwardly and depress the rod to retract thedogs, the shaft being then drawn upwardly out of the registeringopenings of the plates. The clamp may then be transferred to' anotherset of registering openings and pressure applied to clamp the platesagainst each other while other rivets are passed through the plates andheaded.

Having thus claimed is:

l. A plate clamp comprising a support, a sleeve threaded upon saidsupport for resting upon plates to be riveted together about registeringopenings therein and shifting the support vertically to adjustedpositions, bearing arms extending upwardly from said support, a shaftslidable longitudinally through said support between lower portionprotruding downwardly from the support for passing through the openingsinl the plates, said shaft being formed with a longitudinal bore and apocket at the lower` end of the bore, a removable cap for the lower endof said pocket, there being side openings leading from the upper end ofthe pocket at an upward incline and formed with straight cut lower ends,a sleeve slidable vertically in said pocket and having its upper portionformed with a diametrically extending slot, dogs in said slot projectingoutwardly through the side openings and having overlapping ears at theirinner ends, a pin carried by said sleeve and passing through said earsto pivotally mount the dogs for tilting movement from extended positionto an upwardly inclined retracted position, a bracket carried by theupper end of said shaft and extending upwardly therefrom, a rollercarried by the upper end of said bracket and disposed over the shaft, arod slidable longitudinally through the bore of said shaft with itslower end resting upon the ear of one dog and its upper portionprotruding fromV the shaft, a circular disc eccentrically mountedbetween the bearing arms and constituting a cam having its upper portionengaging said roller and its lower portion engaging the upper end of theshaft and formed with a circumferentially extending groove receiving theupper end of said rod, and a handle disc to shift the rod longitudinallyfor extending and retracting the dogs and shifting the shaftlongitudinally to move the dogs into and out of position for abuttingengagement with the under face of the plates to clamp the platestogether between the dogs and lower ends of the support and its sleeve.

2. A plate clamp comprising a support for resting against the upper faceof plates to be secured together about registering openings formedthrough the plates, a shaft slidable longitudinally through said supportfor passing through the registering openings, the shaft being formedwith a longitudinal bore and a pocket at the lower end of the bore, acarrier in said pocket yieldably held against downward movement therein,dogs pivoted to said carrier and projecting outwardly from the pocketthrough described the invention, what is openings in sides of the shaft,a rod slidable i longitudinally through said bore with its upper istituting an auxiliary cam surface for engaging the uppei' end of therod, a member carried by said shaft and engaging the upper portion ofthe cam, and means for turning the cam to shift the shaft longitudinallyand move the auxiliary cam surface of the cam into and out of positionto depress the rod and effect retraction of the dogs.

3. A plate clamp comprising a support for resting against the upper faceof plates to be secured together about registering openings formedthrough the plates, a shaft slidable longitudinally through said supportfor passing through the registering openings, the shaft being formedwith a longitudinal bore and a pocket at the lower end of the bore, acarrier in said pocket yieldably held against downward movement therein,dogs carried by the carrier and projecting outwardly from the shaftthrough side openings thereof when the carrier is in raised position, acam pivotally carried by said support with a lower portion bearingYagainst the upper end of said shaft, a member carried by said shaft andhaving a portion extending upwardly therefrom and engaging the upperportion of said cam, means for moving the cam to shift the shaftlongitudinally through the support and the openings of the plates, and arod through the plates, a shaft slidable longitudinalfor depressing thecarrierslidable longitudinally y through the bore of said shaft with itsupper end protruding from the shaft,lsaid cam being provided with anauxiliary cam surface forv acting upon the upper end of said rod anddepressing the rod to shift the carrier downwardly and effeet inwardmovement of the dogs by engagement of the dogs with lower ends of theside openings of the shaft.

, 4. A plate clamp comprising a support for resting against the upperface of plates to be secured together about registering openings formedthrough the plates, a shaft slidable longitudinally through said supportfor passing through the registering openings, the shaft being formedwith a longitudinal bore and ay pocket at the lower end of the bore, acarrier in said pocket yieldably held against downward movement therein,clogs carried by the carrier and projecting outwardly from the shaftthrough side openings thereof when the carrier is in raised positiomthedogs being shifted inwardly tolretracted position by engagement withlower edges of the slots when the carrieris moved downwardly, a rod fordepressing the carrier slidable longitudinally through the bore of theshaft, a cam. rotatably mounted over said shaft and having surfaces forengagingA upper` ends of the shaft and the rod for shifting the samedownwardly when the camv is turnedv in one direction, and a membercarried by said shaft and engaged by the upper portion of the cam forshifting the shaft upwardly when the cam is turned in an oppositedirection.

5. A plate clamp comprising a support for resting against the upper faceof plates to be secured together about registering openings formedthrough the plates, a shaft slidable longitudinally through said supportfor passing through y the registering openings, the shaft being formedwith a longitudinal bore and a pocket at the lower end of the bore, acarrier in saidpocket yieldably held against downward movement therein,dogs carried by the carrier and projecting outwardly from the shaftthrough side Yopenings thereof when the carrier is in raised position,the dogs being shifted inwardly to retracted position by engagementlwith lower edges of the slots when the carrier is moved downwardl a rod.for depressing ly through the support for passing through saidopenings, the lower portion of the shaft being formed with a pockethaving side openings, dogs pivotally mounted in ,said pocket andnormally projecting outwardly through the side openings to extendedposition, the dogs when shifted downwardly being tilted inwardly toretracted position by contact with lower ends of the openings, a rodcarried by said shaft and shiftable downwardly to depress and tilt thedogs to retracted position, and a cam rotatably carried by said supportand cooperating with'the shaft and the rod for shifting the shaftlongitudinally to clamping and releasing positions and shifting the rodlongitudinally to retract the dogs.

7.. A plate clamp comprising a support for resting against the upperface of plates to be secured together about registering openings formedthrough'the plates, a shaft slidable longitudinally through the supportfor passing through said openings, the lower portion of the shaft beingformed with a pocket having side openings, dogs pivotally mounted insaid pocket and normally projecting outwardly through the sidev openingsto an extended position, a rod shiftable longitudinally of said shaftinto and out of p0- sition for depressing the dogs and effectingretraction thereof, and common means for shifting the sliaitlongitudinally into vand out or' a clamping position and depressing therod to effect retraction of the dogs.

8. A plate clamp comprising a support for resting against the upper faceor' plates to be secured together about registering openings formedthrough the plates, a shaft slidable longitudinal- I ly through thesupport for passing through said lil() l ing against the upper faceopenings, the lower portion of the shaft being y formed with a pockethaving side openings, dogs pivotally mounted in said pocket and normallyprojecting outwardly through the side openings to extended position, arod shiftable longitudinally ofsaid shaft into and out of position fordepressing the dogs yand effecting retraction thereof, a member forshifting said shaft longitudinaily into and out of clamping position,and said member being engageable with the rod for depressing the sameand retracting the dogs when the shaftV is shifted to releasingposition.

9. A plate clamp comprising a support for resttogether through theplates, a shaft slidable longitudinally through the support for passingthroughsaid openings, the lower portion of the shaft being formed with apocket having side openings, dogs adjacent the lower end of said shaftnormally projecting laterally from the shaft and movable to retractedposition, a cam for shifting the shaft longitudinally into and out ofand a member actuated by said cam for effecting retraction of the dogswhen the shaft is in releasing position.

WARNER L. KEEHN.

of plates to be secured 1 about registering openings formed clampingposition,

